Overview
A quirky showman brings a unique cinematic experience to a small town during a tense historical moment.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- nostalgic
- warm
- movie night
- nostalgia viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a smart, funny, affectionate, and emotionally resonant tribute to B-movies, moviegoing, and early-1960s anxieties.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lawrence Woolsey stages the horror spectacle Mant! with rubber suits, practical effects, theatrical props, and aggressive promotional stunts.
The Cuban Missile Crisis and bomb-shelter anxiety merge with the teenage characters' fascination with horror movies.
The fictional Mant! screening functions as both a movie attraction and a comic parallel to Cold War fears.
The central horror extravaganza combines projected film effects, stage props, actors in rubber suits, and audience-interaction tricks.
Films like Matinee, and why
The Last Picture Show
warm coming-of-age story shaped by movie fandom, nostalgia, and affectionate genre satire
Empire of the Sun
playful childhood perspective on cinema, escapism, and emotionally charged historical anxiety
The Sandlot
nostalgic comedy-drama about young people finding imaginative refuge amid adult crises
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
affectionate, self-aware celebration of B-movie culture and theatrical spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Joe Dante
- Release Date
- 1993-01-29
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (342)
Cast
- John Goodman
- Cathy Moriarty
- Simon Fenton
- Omri Katz
- Lisa Jakub
- Kellie Martin
- Jesse Lee Soffer
- Lucinda Jenney
- James Villemaire
- Robert Picardo
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Matinee about?
- A charismatic B-movie impresario turns Cold War panic into theatrical entertainment while teenagers discover how cinema can make fear feel communal and exhilarating.
- What is Matinee like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Matinee as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Matinee violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Matinee.
- What did critics think of Matinee?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a smart, funny, affectionate, and emotionally resonant tribute to B-movies, moviegoing, and early-1960s anxieties.
- Which films are like Matinee?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Picture Show, Empire of the Sun, The Sandlot, and Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
- How long is Matinee?
- Matinee runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Matinee?
- In United States, Matinee streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
